New gantries for M62 managed motorway

A new phase of construction to turn the M62 in West Yorkshire into the region’s first managed motorway starts this weekend when gantry installation work moves to Junctions 26 and 27.

The £150m managed motorway scheme will cut congestion through the use of variable mandatory speed limits and by opening the hard shoulder as an extra running lane.

The scheme covers a 15.5-mile section of the M62 between Junction 25 (Brighouse) and Junction 30 (Rothwell) used by an estimated 140,000 motorists a day.

From this Saturday through to September work will focus on Junctions 26 and 27.

This weekend’s work to install a single cantilever gantry will require a closure of the eastbound exit slip road.

David Pilsworth, Highways Agency project manager, said: “Work on this scheme is progressing very well. The Highways Agency has dedicated a significant amount of time and expertise to planning this phased approach to the managed motorway scheme to cause the minumum amount of inconvenience to road users.

“Using overnight closures gives us full access to the motorway and means we can install the gantries, signs and signals safely and as quickly and efficiently as possible.

The first phase of work to install gantries and signing began in March between Junctions 27 and 28 and entailed a carefully-planned series of overnight weekend closures to allow for installation of nine overhead gantries and two variable message signs.

A total of 36 new overhead gantries – some weighing over 30 tonnes – are required along the new managed motorway section. A further 16 existing gantries are being upgraded to take new signage. The gantries will house signs used to display variable speed limits to manage traffic flow and reduce congestion.

Work to convert the M62 to a managed motorway started in October. The scheme is scheduled to open to traffic in 2013-14.